Towing pole



Apl 2s, 192s.

H. c. BUFFINGTON TOWING POLE Filedmarch 2B, 1924 2 S11seins-Sheet'v 1 is lu .Illllllllll "ul-nul...

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April 2s, 1925. Y 1,535,397

H. C. BUFFINGTON TOWING POLE Filed March 28, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 28, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEFIcE.

'HARRY C. BUFFINGTON, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WEAVER MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, F SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TOWING POLE.

Application tiled March 28, 1924. Serial No. 702,611.

T0 all whom it lmay concern:

Be it known that I. Hman' C. Buruma- 'roN. a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield. in the county ot Sangamon and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Towing Poles, of which the following is a specification. -4

This invention concerns towing appliances con'nnonlyT used in connection with disabled automobiles and trucks whereby the incapacitated vehicle may be drawn to some suitable point for repairs.

One aim of the ii'ivention is to provide a substantially-rigid connection between the towing car and the. crippled towed vehicle, thus preventing the rear one from amming or jamming the one ahead on .sudden Stops or on down grades and eliminating similar dangers incident to theuse ot the ordinary tow line.

Another purpose oil. the invention is to equip the'towing pole with end jaw clamps which enable the appliance to be satisfactorily applied to the front or rear end of any ordinary make and style ot car.

These clamping or 'fastening structures are leased on the principle of the bench vise and will hold rigidly and `securely without danger of slipping or marring the car under most severe strain.

One set of these clamping jaws desirably has two eyes or loops which Jfacilitate its application in approved manner to the pole and to the car.

At each end the pole has a hook which connects to the corresponding clamping jaws in such a way as to-form an extremely simple and effective substantially universal joint which allows ample play in any direcl ion when turning corners, towing over rough roads, etc., thus overconling any material tendency to bend the pole.

'lhcse pole hooks are so constructed and designed that it is impossible for (hem or either ol them to liecolne unhooked or disconnected in towing when both are fastened.

'llhe new towing pole is amply rigid to enable a car to he pushed as well as pulled, which is often an advantage under crowded conditions where there is insnllicient room to tow or pull the car into the desired position.

A heavy coiled sprinfrconstitutes a cushion and takes any strain 1n starting from the towing car as when in a rut, since it enables the engine to turn over freely at first and gradually assume the load while the spring is beingcontraeted. In this way severe jerks a'nd st Iains in starting are eliminated, which are impossible to avoid when an ordinary tow-line or perfectly rigid connection is used. rThis cushion pole also absorbs any shocks when towing over rough roads or Billen starting and stopping quickly in traf- Various other benefits and advantages from the use o't the improved device will become apparent Jfrom the following detailed description ot the construction and operation of the structure.

To enable those skilled in this art to have a full and complete understanding of the invention, both from structural and functional` standpoints, in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and throughout the several views ot which like reference characters refer to the same parts, I have illust ated a desirable and preferred embodiment of the invention but it is to he remembered that the inven; tion is susceptible of a variety ofembodiments falling within the scope 'of the appended claims.

In these drawings:

Figure l is an elevation of the new and improved towing pole with its end clamps secured to bodies o't different shapes;

Figure 2 is atop plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1 with a part broken away to more clearly indicate the interior construction;

1 `igure 3 is a fragmentary vertical central section on an enlarged scale through the cushion portion of the towing pole;

Figure 4t depicts partly in elevation and partly in vertical section one end portion ot the towing )ole and one of the clam iinnt de-,

vices;

Figure 5 is a sinlilarriewol'i the opposite end ot the towing pole; and i' Figures (i to 1 1. inclusive illustrate in perspective several different ways of attaching the towing pole to ditlerent parts of automo: biles. I

Referring to these drawings, it will be perceived that the new towing pole comprises an outer tubular member 21 having a hollow rod 22 teleseopically received in one en d, the rod having a number ot spaced holes 23 adapted to accommodate a pin 24 extended througl'i a hole in the outer or en casing member 21, whereby the pole as a whole may be elongated or shortened as occasion requires.

The protruding end ot the inner hollow rod is fitted with a hook 25 having a laterally extended end 26.

At its other end, member 2t has a yoke 27 screwed thereon and extended and slidable through aligned holes in the end members of such yoke and into the corresponding end of the tubular elen'ient 21, another inner hollow or tubular member 28 is employed, the outer end thereof being supplied with acorrespondingl or complementary hook 29.

The part 28 has a longitudinal slot 31 and internally this member accommodates apair of slidable pressure-bloclzs 32 and 33 extended laterally ont through the slot 31 and provided externally thereof with lugs 34, 35 between which and surrounding the cy lindrical element 28 and inside of the yoke there is a coil or cushion spring 36.

Obviously when the pull is exerted on the pole at its left-hand end, as the pole is illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, and the load is imposed on the other end of the pole, the right-hand end of the yoke will, through the plate or block 33 and its lng 35, compress the spring toward the left, the other end of the spring being prevented ffrom movement inV that direction by the engagement of block 32 with the left-hand Vend ot slot 31, thus securing adequate cushioning effect between the source of power applied to the one end of the pole and the load attached to its other end. i

When the pull is exerted on the righthand end of the pole with the load secured to the other end, the left-hand end-wall of Slot 81 pushes block 32 to the right coinpressing the spring between itself and the other block 33 which bears against the rightliand end of the yoke.

Thus adequate and proper cushioning results ai'e secured regardless et how the pole may be fastened to the towing and towed vehicles.

At one end of the towing pole, the means for attachment to a part o t the vehicle to be pulled or to that et the Schiele performing the drawing or anlintgy comprises two jaws 41 and-42 pix-'ciel or hinged together at their'l'ower ends f the' jaw 41 having a recess 44 on its inner ace adapted to rewith a loop or eye member 46 designed to receive the hook 25 or 29, is disposed transversely of the clampingr jaws, extending through an aperture 47in the jaw 42 and being pivoted or hinged at 4S to the jaw 41 on a cross-pin in a recess 49 in such jaw.

A nut 51 on the rod permits the jaws to be forced toward one another to securely grasp or clamp the axle or other part of the vehicle as shown in Figure 4 and by backing away the nut. on the rod the clamp may be Opened to free sneli part.

The complementary clamp at the other end of the pole, it. being understood of course that these two clamping members are interchangeable it desired, comprises a pair of jaws 61, 62 hinged together at G3. recessed in register at 6st, 6:5 on their inner faces, to enable them to securely grasp bodies of diterent shapes, sncli as those ot cylindrical cross-section, like rear axle lionsings.

The upper end of jaw 62 is bifurcated at 66, 67, Figure 2, whereas the corresponding pai't ot' the other companion jaw 61 has a single reduced thickness end portion GS, which, it occasion demands, may be received in the space between the parts 66 and G7 when the clamp is grasping a small body.

If desired, the inner faces of the portions 66, 67 and 68 of the clamp may be curved to more readily and eectively clamp cylindrical or round bodies.

The lower portion of jaw member 61 1s recessed or bifurcated to receive between its spaced walls the lower end portion of the other jaw member 62, the two being hinged together at this point -on the liiiigc-pin ($3 as stated'.

lelowor beyond the hinge-pin, the jaw member 61 is shaped to provide an attachiiieiit loop or eye Gt) which may, if desired, be applied to the towing-pole hook.

. The two jaw members are equipped with a threaded rod 71, eye 72, hinge-pin and tightening-nut 74 as is the other clamp at the opposite end of the pole, and in. similar manner the two jaw members have corresponding apertures er rece; s and '76., whereby the clamp may be tightened or loosened as is necessary for the performance et the required functions.

ln FiguresI 4 to l1 inclusive, l hare shown several ways .in which the connections may be made to ditl'erent parts of the car.

ln l4`igures -t and (i. the clamp .i-l. IL is shown applied to an I-beam front axle. and the hook 25 may extend up as illustrated in Figure #i or may be reversed as depicted in Figure Figure 7 portrays the attachment ot the clamps (il, (S2 to 'a platform spring, the loop T2 being associated with the towing pole hook which projectsupwardly.

In Figure 8 the same clamp is illustrated fastened to a rear leaf spring, the loop (it) being used with the towing pole hook arranged horizontally or sidewise.

Figure 9 shows a somewhat similar arrangement with the' clamp secured to a rear spring shackle. i

.ln Figure 10 the same clamp is illustrated fastened to a rear or front bumper.

In Figures 5 and ll such clamp is shown secured to a rear axle or housing. the loop or eye 72 being used in association with the hook.

Those skilled in this art will readily understand that various minor mechanical changes may be made, in the structure illustrated and described without departure from the heart and essence of the invention and without the sacrifice of any of its substantial benefits and advantages.

I claim:

1. The combination of a towing-pole and an end attachment means therefor comprising in combination a pair of companion jaw-members of different lengths hinged together and recessed in register on their inner faces, the greater length portion of said longer member being constructed to engage the element grasped by said members and to prevent turning of the members on said element, and means to force said members toward one another to grasp a portion of a vehicle between them and accommodated at least in part in said recesses.

2. The combination of a towing-pole and an end attachment means therefor comprising a pair of companion jaw-members hinged together and at least one of which is recessed on its inner face. in combinati-on with a threaded rod associated with said jaw-members transverselyr of the latter and having means for connection with the towing-pole, and threaded means lon said rod adapted to torce said jaw-members toward one another to grasp a part ofthe vehicle between them with at least a portion thereof in said recess. t

3. The combination of a towing-pole and an end attachment means therefor comprising a pair ofcompanion jaw-members hinged together near one end and both recessed on their inner faces in register, one of said jaw-members being longer than the other, in combination with a threaded rod associated. with said jzinwmemlwrs transversely ot the. latter and having means l'or connection with the 'towing-pole, and threadedmeans on said rod adapted to l'orce said ja\\'-inen1lars toward one another to grasp a. part of-the vehicle between them with at least a portion thereof in said recesses.

4. 'lhe combination ot' a towing-pole having anend hook with a terminal portion bentI outwardly substantially at: right angles to the plane of the hook and an attachn'ient means haring a. loop receiving said hook and comprising a. pair of con'ipanion jaw-members hinged together near one end and re-A cessed in register on their inner faces, and screw-tlu'eaded means disposed transversely ot said jaw-members adapted to force the latter toward one another to grasp a portion ot. a vehicle between them with at least'. a part thereof accommodated in said jaw recesses.

5. The combination of a towing-pole hav- `ing an end hook with a terminal portion bent outwardly substantially at right: angles to the, plane ofthe hook and an attachment means comprising a pair of jaw'aiiembers hinged together near one end and recessed in register on their inner faces, and screwthrcaded means disposed transversely of said jaw-niemlars and equipped with a loop designed 'to receive, said towing-pole hook and adapted to torce saidjaw-members t0- ward o-nel another to grasp a portion of a vehicle between them with at least a part thereof accommodated in said recesses.

G. The combination of a towing-pole having an end hook with a. terminal portion bent outwardly sul'istantially at; right angles to the, plane of the hook and an attachment means comprisingl a pair of companion jawmembers of different lengths hinged together near one end and recessed in register on their inner faces, anda scrow-tlneaded rod disposed transversely of said jaw-members and equipped with a loop at one end designed to receive said towing-pole hook. and a nut on said rod adapted to force said jawmembers toward one another to grasp a portion of a vehicle between them with at leasta part thereof accommodated in said jaw recesses.

7. The combination of a tendini-poley and an end attachment: means therefor compris-- ing in conibination a pair of jaw-niemlurs hinged tiogethe and -aty least one ot' which is recessed ou its inner face, a screw-threaded rod roeki-ngly mounted on one of said membersand extended. through an aperture. of =`the other lnember, and ithreaded means on said rod adapted to force said members toward one another to grasp a portion of a rehicle between them and accommodated at least in part. in said recess.

8. The combinationof a towing-pole and the other member, said rod having a loop adapted to recelve a ternnnal hook on sald towing-pole, and a nut on said rod adapted to force said jmv-nlen'ibers toward one anl0 other to grasp a portion ot" the vehicle hetween them and accommodated at least in part in said recesses.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

HARRY C. BUFFINGTON. [L s.] 

